Compact cabinet and table



Oct. 24, 1950 P. A. CAIN 2,527,056

COMPACT CABINET AND TABLE Filed May 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

l/ i' I m /,e M Emi I /9 29 a I INVENTOR.

' izzzcLAfd in ATTD RN EYS Oct. 24, 1950 P. A. CAIN 2,527,056

COMPACT CABINET AND TABLE Filed May 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTEI RNEYS Patented Oct. 24, 1950 um'nzo STATES PATENT- enres- COMPACT CABINETAND TABLE' 1 Paul A. Cain, San Angelo, f1ex. v

Application May 5, 1947, SerialNo. 746,0i's

1 Claim. (Cl. 312-162) The-present invention relates to combinationtables and cabinets and it consists in the combinations, constructionsand arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally, the invention consists of a cabinet structure which isadaptedto'take up a minimum of space and is especially adapted; to modernapartments and the like wherein space is at a minimum. The cabinet isprovided with a pair of outwardly extending doors each of which isprovided with shelves or other storage space and within the cabinet ismounted a collapsible table top which is adapted to be pulled out andfastened to a pair of brackets which are normally folded within thecabinet but are hinged to extend outwardly to form a support for thetable top memher. The brackets are so arranged as to provide a maximumof leg and foot room. A novel arrangement is provided in the top of thebracket members for cooperatively locking the same to the table top whenthe latter is in extended position.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a simple,compact, inexpensive and efficient combination cabinet and table.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thecharacter described wherein there is provided a maximum of leg and footroom when the able is extended.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novelcollapsible table top and support therefor.

A further object of the invention is theprovision of novel means forlocking the top to the supporting members.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying theinvention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Figure l inopen position,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 6 with thetable top in open position,

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 showing the table top in foldedposition,

Figure 6 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the invention in openposition,

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line1-4 of Figure 6, and

Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged detail views of the invention,

Referring'L-Imore particularly to the drawings, there is shown'fthereinacabinet having a body portion Wandhavingj hinged thereto as indicatedat H a pairgof doors" [2 each provided with a. handle I3 andeach havingupon its inner side a plurality of fshelves v i i and a partition [5 toprovide convenientcornpartments therein.

Mounted within thef back portion of the cabinet Ilbyfrnefansofscrews;lfigorthe like are vertically extending chamermembers or rails 'll atthe sides thereof. Each channel member is L-shaped at its upper end asindicated at [8 and each is adapted to coact with a channel member orrail as indicated at 20. Each channel I?) is provided with a bracket arm2| attached adjacent the outer end thereof and hinged at its lower endas indicated at 22.

A table top comprising a series of slats 24 hinged at their under sidesas indicated at 25 is adapted to ride upon the channel members [9. Thechannel members l9 have upwardly extending ridges 26 which are adaptedto lie within grooves 21 formed in the under side of the slats 24.

- The outermost slat 24 is provided with an operating handle 28. Thehorizontal section 30 of the channel arms 19 is, in each case providedwith a series of staggered openings 3i for the reception of downwardlyextending hooks 32 carried on the under side of the slats. The hooks 32are so staggered in order to cooperatively engage the section of therails through the openings 3|.

In the operation of the device it will be apparent that upon opening thedoors I2 to the fully extended position shown in Figure 3 there will beprovided cabinet space within the cover members I2 and that thereuponthe channel members [9 may be swung to outward position as shown inFigure 5 and that the handle 28 may then be grasped and pulled to aforward position as shown in Figure 4. With the parts arranged in thismanner the hinged slats 24, which are normally positioned behind therails I! are drawn upwardly and outwardly by the handle 28 with thegrooves 2'! in the lower surfaces of the slats positioned over the upperedges of the upwardly extended flanges of the rails with the rails l9open to the positions shown in Figures 4 and 5. With the slatspositioned on the rails in this manner the hooks. 32 extend downwardlythrough the openings 3| in the horizontally dis-' posed flanges 39 ofthe rails thereby frictionally 3 securing the slats in the outwardlyextended or operative position. In this position the slats form a tabletop that may be used as a desk, table, or the like.

The hooks 32 may then be engaged in the openings 3|, the staggeredrelation of said hooks and openings providing for each hook to beengaged only in the opening 3| for which it is intended". The table willthen be locked in position until it is again desired to close thecombined table and cabinet.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that-manyminormodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is: In a folding table cabinet, the combinationwhichcornprises a casing having hinged doors, vertically disposed rails"with horizontally 'poSi tione'd outwardly extended upper ends inopposite sides'of the cabinet and positioned in the rearf"thereoflrhorizontally disposed rails with support'-" ing diagonallypositioned braces also positioned in opposite sides of the cabinet,means hinging the said horizontally disposedrails and braces in thecabinet with the'hin'ged ends of the rails po-" sitioned to coact" withthe "horizontally disposed upper ends of the said vertically disposedrails, said horizontally disposed rails having upwardly extended flangesand horizontally positioned base flanges with openings in the said baseflanges, a plurality of transversely positioned hinged slats with spacedgrooves in the under surfaces thereof positioned on the horizontallydisposed rails with the edges of the said upwardly extended flangespositioned in the grooves in the under surfaces of the'slats, said slatsmounted to slide inwardly of the cabinet and downwardly behind the saidvertically disposed rails, and hooks carried by the slats and positionedto extend into the openings of'the"-horizontally disposed flanges ofhorizontally disposed rails for retaining the said slats in operativeposition on said rails.

PAUL A. CAIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file ofthis'patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I-ENTS Number Name Date M 419,978 Taylor Jan."21,i189 0766,197 Picker Aug. 2, 1904 919,619 McCornb Apr. 27, 1909 1,944,405Copeland Jan. 23, 1934

